Animal Welfare in Sri Lanka
A tiny island nation in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is a diverse land of endless beaches, lush jungles and timeless ruins. Though, with a population of over 20 million people, Sri Lanka has struggled to manage both its street dog overpopulation problem and community education programmes that help prevent animal welfare abuses and the spread of animal-borne diseases such as rabies.
Street Dog Overpopulation in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is home to millions of roaming street dogs and cats, who suffer immeasurable pain from diseases, vehicle accidents, and cruelty. Overpopulation of street dogs (and cats) has been an issue that societies have dealt with in a variety of ways, many inhumane. Animal welfare in Sri Lanka is rarely considered, and as a result, campaigns of poisoning, shooting, electrocution, drowning, starvation and other cruel methods have been used to "dispose" of unwanted animals. Such activities are not only brutal; they are ineffective because, although they may serve as methods for “immediate” results, they are not long-term solutions.The life of an uncared-for street dog can be wretched. Entire lives spent without any positive human contact, basic shelter or veterinary care. Suffering hunger, constant torment from preventable and treatable skin conditions or parasitic infections. Dogs and cats are at constant risk of being trapped in illegal snares, injured in fights over territory, contracting sexually transmitted diseases or being exposed to fatal diseases like rabies. In Sri Lanka, the most effective way to deal with the street dog overpopulation crisis is through education, sterilisation and vaccination.
Education & Transforming Animal Welfare in Sri Lanka
The Dogstar Foundation is transforming animal welfare in Sri Lanka. Since 2006 Dogstar has worked closely with Sri Lankan communities and vets to provide sterilisations, vaccinations, veterinary treatment, education leading to attitude change and the development of veterinary practice. A dog charity with a difference, Dogstar is committed to understanding Sri Lankan communities and helping them to find sustainable solutions to animal welfare in Sri Lanka.Dogstar Foundation has a unique approach to animal welfare. Being based in a Sri Lankan village and working within small communities, they are able to bring about real change and witness transformations. All of Dogstar’s work is outreach-based from mobile clinics to home visits and education sessions.Education is a fundamental part of Dogstar’s plan to develop community responsibility for animal welfare and health. By challenging and developing concepts of ownership, Dogstar is transforming the way that companion animals are viewed and cared for in Sri Lanka. Dogstar works with schools and communities to teach children and adults of all ages about safe and kind interactions with animals.
In countries like the United Kingdom, Australia and the US, dog management is quite simple; owned dogs have clearly defined owners and don’t go out unaccompanied. Dogs alone on the street are stray/lost and will be collected by local authorities, taken to rescue centres or pounds, reunited with their owner, rehomed or euthanized. In many Asian countries, including Sri Lanka things are not so clear.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) categorises dogs depending on the level of restriction by a person and the intended provision of food/shelter/resources:
1. Restricted (supervised) dogs – fully dependent and fully restricted by man2. Family dogs – fully dependent and semi-restricted3. Neighbourhood dogs – semi-dependent and semi-restricted4. Unrestricted (unsupervised) dogs – semi-dependent and unrestricted5. Feral dogs – independent and unrestrictedIn Sri Lanka, Category 1 (restricted) dogs are in the minority, as most houses don’t have physical boundaries. Sadly, most Category 1 dogs in Sri Lanka would be permanently chained or kenneled, and are generally “pedigree” dogs, guard dogs or dogs whose owners have a complete lack of understanding of animal’s basic needs.The vast majority of dogs in Sri Lanka fall in a range between Category 2 and 4 and are usually semi-independent, with many of them moving from one category to another in their lifetime.Thus, very often, people think that an owned dog in Sri Lanka is safer than being a street dog, however, the reality is not so distinct. Thousands of owned dogs in Sri Lanka are confined to tiny cages, with little or no access to food, water or veterinary care. All dogs, regardless of whether they are owned or not, must have both their physical and emotional needs met. Dogstar’s education programmes ensure that both children and adults are given compassionate advice on how to care for owned dogs while their spay/neuter campaigns and data collection program through Mission Rabies assist in managing and recording the street dog population in an ethical, humane way.
How it Began
Since their inception in 2006, they have carried out thousands of sterilisations, vaccinations and treatments to dogs and cats that are stray, owned by poorer families or living in communities and religious buildings being fed by local residents. They have positioned themselves as advocates for these animals and animal welfare educators to the human communities in which they live.The Dogstar Foundation began in 2006 when Samantha Green was vacationing in Sri Lanka. It was there that she came across a street dog that seemed minutes away from death. Lying lifeless on the chalky grounds of a village temple, the dog was riddled with mange and mites and was severely emaciated. Samantha, a UK citizen working in the transport industry at the time was taken aback by the sight of this creature, who was barely recognisable atop the torrid dirt piles.Unable to walk away from this wounded street dog, Samantha quickly got to work, contacting vets and animal experts, and paying for the dog to receive the medical attention it needed.But the problem was far worse than Samantha ever could have imagined. At every street crossing, every corner, and outside every shopfront was a roaming street dog. Most often, they were riddled with mange, a parasitic skin disease, and starved beyond belief. Thousands upon thousands of dogs were in urgent need of medical attention, scattered across the worn streets of Sri Lanka, and nobody was helping them.The Sri Lankan government’s reputation for street dog maintenance was shameful, alternating between poisoning or shooting dogs and relocating them (or, dumping them in rural areas).Standing with the wasted dog in her arms, in a politically volatile and foreign country, Samantha had just, unbeknownst to her, committed to the biggest project of her life. Having no veterinary experience, limited knowledge of Sri Lanka, and no contacts whatsoever in the country, Samantha did the only thing she could. She saved the dog’s life and named him Mango. Then, she uplifted her entire life and moved to Sri Lanka.Ten years on, Samantha lives in Negombo, a fishing village on the west coast of Sri Lanka, roughly 35km north of the country’s capital. There, with her husband Mark, she runs the Dogstar Foundation, which is now one of the leading animal welfare charities in Sri Lanka. Giving up their illustrious careers in the transport industry in both the UK and Australia, Samantha and Mark work without salaries, providing much-needed care to Sri Lanka’s forgotten street animals.
Dogstar Foundation in 2016
Just last week, Samantha and Mark were driving through Sri Lanka’s main fishing port of Negombo, when they came across a small puppy staggering along the street in temperatures of nearly 40 degrees. He was in appalling condition. His skin was in such a bad state that the fur on his back had been replaced my wounds and scabs. He was terrified, starved, dehydrated and was very close to death. Dogstar Foundation have named him Rylie and have taken him into foster care to ensure that he receives the care he requires.
Watch the video here:
Every day, the Dogstar Foundation are faced with gargantuan issues that seem impossible to tackle. From abuse, neglect and overpopulation, to government misinformation and compassion fatigue, the Dogstar Foundation relies heavily on the generosity of the public, particularly through their UK base, through donations and public awareness and engagement.Since 2006, Dogstar Foundation has vaccinated over 20,000 dogs and cats against rabies and spayed/neutered over 12,000. The team runs monthly spay and neuter campaigns in their mobile veterinary unit, making sure to gather much-needed data on street dogs and cats in Sri Lanka through a Mission Rabies phone app, which will allow the charity to compile data and trends on street dog overpopulation in Sri Lanka so that both NGO’s and governments can work toward a more sustainable animal management and welfare system.Dogstar Foundation is redefining animal welfare in Sri Lanka and educating communities on best welfare practices by setting a positive example. Their spay and neuter campaigns, coupled with their data collection and community education programmes are paving the way for a more ethical animal management model in Sri Lanka. They are committed to transforming animal welfare in Sri Lanka, one street dog at a time. Click here to Donate to Dogstar Foundation.
We are offering over $3000 worth of prizes for people who sign up to our blog. Click here for details.